"I can only imagine..." Erik teased a bit, tapping on Darby's cage with his boot.

"And she was the type that knew it too, if'n you get my drift."

"I know the type..."

"She liked to turn heads, that one did... Liked it more when you'd flirt with her a bit... Like she got off on the sin of it all."

Darby took a breathe, watching Erik finish up his sandwich.

"So how'd you get caught, if she was such an expert temptress? Did your charms finally land themselves on some lonely soul too naive to see you for the cad you are?"

"If it were only so happy an ending, rotting here as a star crossed love mourns me miles away. But it wasn't nothing like that. Just tempted Fate one too many times with that one, that fat sherif ripping me off his old lady mid stroke."

"Wouldn't be in this cage telling you this if I was, mate. Fat bastard ripped me off her then beat us both stupid for making him a fool."

"He hit her too?"

"Damn right. She starred insulting him the second I came off... Kind of shit you never want coming out of your woman's mouth. Looking back, she might have gotten the worst of it, seeing as how I at least got to leave; his men dragging me out here to my current state." He gave out a hopeless sigh, clanking his head against he coarse iron bars as he did.

"Worse part was, the bitch wasn't even that good."

"As though you have much to compare to. You're just a pup."

"I grew up a few towns from here... Locke's Mead. The Conscription took many of the men from home for a long time... Women get lonely. And I get lonely women."

He paused as Erik withdrew his pipe from his coat, starting to puff on it.

Erik noticed the quiet, locking eyes with Darby. He offered him the pipe, again the convict grabbing eagerly at it.

"You were saying?"

"The women got lonely and bored and lusty, and I- too young to be called to serve and too pretty to be ignored- felt it my duty to keep my neighbors comforted during their hardship."

"And I take it people started to talk?"

"Not right away... But after a few of the war widows started showing, it could be said things got dicey. Figured it was time for a change of scenery and made my way to the Keep."

"And what was your trade there... I mean, besides whoring."

"A jack of all trades, if'n you will..."

"And now it's clear... You're a bum, Mr. Darby..."

"Begging your pardon?" Darby replied, feigning shock at the insult.

"You heard me well enough... You're a cad; corrupting legions of once virtuous women with your lusty charms. But it seems as though this road for you has come to an end." Erik stated, his ire fueled by the wine.

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What Do You Think

Gay Marriage....

Is too important an issue for the Government to leave to the hands of the people... Should be a state's rights issue where the voice of the people will be heard... Isn't going to matter a hill of beans once the Chinese roll their tanks down the Pacific Coast Highway...